Method or process of yarn or thread manipulation and product thereof



June 24 .J F. WILCCJMB METHOD 0R PROCESS 'OF YARN THREAD MANIPULATIONANDPRODUCT THEREOF Filed Dec. 17

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2 Shee ts-$heet I June 24 1924'.

-- J F. wILc MB METHOD OR PROCESS OF YARN OR THREAD MAN II ULATIbN ANDPRODUCT THEREOF Fil'ed Dec. 17 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mew/$02":

Patented June 24, 1924.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mnu'rs, T0 HEMPHILL ooivirzi'nY, or on'nrant mars, ano'nn ISLAND, A coammos on PROCESS or YARN on THREAD mnnrrum'rron Ann PMDUGEL" THEREOF.

Application filed- December 17,'i91 9. sesame. $15,514.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. FRANK Winsome, .a citizen of the United States,and a resident of 'VVorcester, in the county of Worcester and. State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improyement in -Methods or Processes ofarn or Thread Manipulation and Product Thereof, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is *aspecification, like characters on. the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a method or process' of yarn or threadmanipulation which may be carried out in the production. of a singlecord or may be carried out in. the production of knitted fabrics to beused. for any desired purpose including hosiery, underwear, handcoverings and other articles.

My invention may be carried out by hand manipulation or suitable ,inrrumemiiues. It may also be carried out by mechanically operated partsinvolving or including certain instrumentalit ies to engage and act uponthe yarn. or thread in the formation of knitted loops. If a single setor pair of coacting elements be employed, a single crocheted cord. isproduced. If a series of uch elements are employed, a knitted fabric isproduced.

While my invention is not limited in its scope or application to the useof any particular form or type of yarnengaging instrumentalities, I haveobtained. the best results by the use of a knitting instrumentalitypartaking of the general character of a knitting needle of that formherein shown. I shall therefore proceed to describe my ni'ethod with.particular reference to the carrying out thereof by or through the useof that form of instrumentality herein shown. It is, however, distinctlyto be understood that while my invention is described with par ticularreference to such type of instru mentality, it may be otherwisepractised within the broad scope and purpose OITHY invention. 7

In-the drawings where I have represented a single type or embodimentonly of the torm'of knitting instrumentality preferably employed:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a knitting instrumentality composed of two(mo-acting elements, said figure also showing a small fabric produced.

ti'yeposition occupied at a subsequent por-f tion of the knittingoperation;

F ig. 3 is a similar View representing the two cosae'ting elements instill another relative position,- and representing the next step in theknitting operation; 7

Fig. 4: is a similar View but representing the next succeeding step inthe knitting operation;

Fig. his a sirnlar vie w but representing the co-acting {elements ashaving returned to the positiono'fFig. 1; y n

Fi' 6 a's'ide ely'ation'of a so-c alled stop mm e'rjtorming a part ofone of the co acting element's; I 1

Fig. 7 is an nd view-of that. one ofthe co-a ctinfg elements to whichthe stop memberisapp'lid; V

Fig.8 is a side elevation of oneof the said co acting elements and whichI herein designate a's'the quill or sheath member of the j need le' unitFig. 9 is a similar View of the other of said co-ac'ting elements andwhich I herein designate as the hook member of the needle units p I Fig.1 0 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 butindicating theInanual'manjipulation or operation 'of'the needle unit in thefca'rryingout of m process or method and Fig. 1.1 represents the quill or sheathmemher as having a different form of point.

I will proceed to describe in detail that selected or preferredform ofins'trumentality or needle unit by which I may, and preferably do,practise my invention, without by such detailed description limiting inany way the applicationof my invention, it being understood that theinstrumentality or needle unit may be employed, in manufacturing variousforms or types of knitted fabric, in any desired number and in anydesired relation to each other, as, for example, in a circular seriesvertically or otherwise arranged, or in one or two straight rowsintersecting or otherwise where two rows are employed, or in acircularseries intersecting or cooperating with another circular-seriesarranged in a. horizontal plane .or otherwise:

the extended end portion which may be fieXible or non-flexible asdesired, all of which is embraced in the term hook. The throat is thereduced part of the stem below the hook.

The quill or sheath member 2 is desirably of channel form, the sidewalls thereof being preferably thin and parallel. The end of the quillis pointed as indicated at 7 and is herein referred to as the nose, andmay be bent, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8 and 10, or straight as shown inFig. 11. From such nose the edges of the side walls rise at 8 on anincline to the hump or swell 9, this being followed by edges reverselyinclined with respect to the incline 8, as indicated at 10, and leadingto a throat 11. Herein below the throat 11 is the stem 12 which ispreferably integral with or is connected with higher side walls 13forming a base portion terminating with a lateral extension constitutingthe quill butt 14 and which may obviously be otherwise formed. Betweenthe high walls 13 a block 15 may be rigidly positioned as by a rivet orrivets 16 or other wise, thus forming a stop against which the butt 5contacts, thereby registering the hook with the quill swell. The blockor stop desirably has a butt portion, and it is herein shown as of lessdepth than the walls 18 to afford a continuation of the channel of thequill serving to hold the needle shank and needle in the quill.

Obviously the stop 15 may be brazed. welded or otherwise secured inplace and may be of any suitable form that will register the needle hookwith the quill hump or swell.

If desired and in the mechanical opera-- tion or carrying out of mymethod, the two coacting members or elements of the needle unit, ofwhich any desired number and arrangement may be provided, are operatedby cams. desirably one for each set of such members or elements, saidcams if provided acting upon the butts of the members or elements in amanner that need not be described in detail.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5 which show the co-acting elements ormembers of the needle unit in the different positions assumed therebyduring the knitting operation and spring beard needle.

messes the carrying out of my method, Fig. 1 represents the elements ofthe unit in their retracted position with the loop 17 hanging orpositioned in the hook of the hook member of the unit. a

Fig. 2 represents the hook member 1 as having advanced in relation tothe quill or sheath member 2 so as .to open the hook 3 for receiving thenew yarn, or rather, that portion of the yarn providing the new loop. I

Fig. 3 represents the hook member 1 as still further advanced butfollowed by the quill member 2 so as to maintain substantially the samerelation to each other as in Fig; 2. In that relation of the two membersor elements indicated in- Fig. 3, the quill member 2 has passed into theold loop indicated in said figure at 17, and the said old loop 17 hasridden up the incline 8 over the swell 9 and has lodged in the throat 11of the quill member as clearly indicated in said figure. The new yarnhas been supplied to the hooked portion of the needle as indicated at 18in Fig. 3.

The elements or members of the needle unit are now retracted to theposition and into the relation of parts indicated in Fig. 4 wherein thehook 3 is closed by reason of the fact that its hook enters between thewalls of the swell 9 of the quill element or member, so that the oldloop 17 may be cast off, which is done when the parts, continuing theirretraction while in the relation indicated in Fig. 4, have reached theposition indicated in Fig. 5. In said Fig. 5 the old loop 17 isrepresented as incorporated into the substance or body of the knittedfabric and the succeeding loop 18 is now held in the hook 3, beingconfined therein by the walls of the swell 9.

It is unnecessary for me to represent other parts of a knittingorganization that may be employed if desired in the mechanical carryingout of my method. I, however, state that in such mechanical carrying outof the method I may employ yarn feeding sinkers either for ribbed workusing two rows or sets of needle units, or for flat work made uponsingle. rows or sets of needles. The needle unit composed of the co-acting ele ments of the general type or form herein disclosed isneither a latch needle nor a It is unnecessary to set forth in detailthe various characteristic differences between the needle unitpreferably employed by me in the practice of my method and latch needlesand spring beard needles. I may, however, briefly point out that in thepractice of my method I avoid entirely the use of the latch of the latchneedle with the consequent difficulties and evils incident thereto, andI desirably avoid the objections due to crystallization of the beards ofspring beard needles, the side deflection of said beards, and fatiguecausing dead beards. I also dispense with needle pressers. Latch guardsand latch openers such. as are commonly used with latch needles are notrequired.

In the practice of my invention so far as processes and mechanismsinvolving direct feeding to the needles are concerned and as animportant step in the carrying out of my method, I effectively dividethe new yarn or the new strand thereof and the old or fabric loop, and Ido this in a simple, safe and re liable manner, whereas in the case ofspring beard needles attempted division of the yarns or succeeding loopsupon the same needle has been largely a matter of skillful adjustment ofmechanical devices by a knitting e-Xpert. My invention is particularlywell suited to sinker knitting, obviously without being limited thereto,and may be practised in processes or organizations wherein sinkers areemployed to sink the yarn with great saving of needle travel and thenon-use of beard pressers.

The throat of the hook member or element of the needle unit, preferablyemployed in practising my method, is smaller'and thinner than inordinary needles by an amount equalling the thickness of the walls ofthe quill member. It is obvious that all loops in a knitting operationpass over the largest part of the needle or knitting instrumentality,which in the latch type of needle comprises the hook and closed latchthereof.

Referring now to the formation of loops in accordance with my processand more particularly by. the use or action of a' series of co-actingelements of the herein-described type in the production of fabric, it isevident that a loop large enough to pass over the hump or swell 9 willhang on the throat of the needle in the form substantially indicated forexample in Figs. 2 and 5, assunr ing that fabric-tension exists, andthus a relatively large opening or loopis exposed at the back of thestem of the hook memher, and hereinafter referred to asthe normal loopopening, and through which relatively large opening or loop the quillnose of the forms shown in the drawings can pass freely as indicated byFigs. 2 and 5. The size and shape of this opening depend upon severalfactors among which may be enumerated the presence or absence of fabrictake-up tension. I will herein refer to the loop opening as the normalloop opening without thereby limiting myself to any particular size orshape thereof, since it is obvious that in the absence offabric-tension, the walls of said loop may at certain stages of theoperation lie quiteclose against the back of the needle in a non-openedor nonspread condition.

An important feature or step of my method flows from such normal loopopening, andis taken advantage of by me in the effective practice of mymethod. Referring now to the form :of instrumentality shown in thedrawings, it will be observedthat in Figs. 2 and 3 the nose of the quillmember or element initially enters the normal loop opening at the rearof the stem of the hook member 1. The formation of the normal loopopening as diagrammatically indicated at 19 in: Fig. 2, and which is anecessary characteristic of a knitted'loop, is availed of by me in thecarrying out of my method and so far as I am aware, for the first timein the art, by causing a casting off element of a needle unit, or acooperating member of a pairof co-acting elements, to enter said normalloop opening initially at an unstressed part thereof at the rear of thepoint where the said loop is supported and to spread the loop by forcingthe yarn outwardly toward or with reference to the point of loop suport.

While for purposes of concrete explanation I have described the lastformed loop as supported upon a hooked instrument of the form shown, itis obvious that for the purpose and within the broad scope of myinvention the loop may be supported in any suitable manner. Such asupported loop I, in the preferred practice of my invention, cause to beentered by a part, device or'co-- acting element at the normal openingtherein'between the point of support of the loop and the throat of theloop, this being done in the disclosed embodiment of means whereby-myinvention may be practised, by the other co-acting member of the needleunit.

Where the co-acting member entering the normal loop opening between thepoint of support of the loop and the throat thereof is of that preferredcharacter represented in Fig. 8, it isevident that the two parallelwalls of the rise 8 engage the yarn of the loop at the sides of thehookmember 1 so as to force the yarn outwardly in a forward direction, thatis, forwardly toward or with reference to the point of loop support.Said point of loop support is herein shown as at the front of thehook'member 1 and the said rise 8 and the subsequently acting swell 9may and preferably do open or spread the loop by acting thereon afterentering the normal loop opening. The contact of the rise 8 and swell 9with the yarn being at the sides of the hook member 1 is therefore atparts of the yarn'loop which are comparatively unstressed, as opposed tothat portion of the yarn where the loop is supported as upon the hook 3and where it is under the greatest stress. Such opening or spreading maytemporarily borrowyarn from the adjacent loops in order to pass theswell 9, but it is not intended so to expand the loops as to rupture theyarn. fibres.

The twoxparallefwall's 'of' the quill mem- Ill her or element cause thespread or opened loop, which at such time is under stress, to pass morefreely and with less liability of rupture over the hook of the hookedmemher or element than would be the case with latch needles where asingle latch having a thickness of about .005 has a decided cuttingtendency on the yarn as the angle of the yarn in such case is a veryacute angle, whereas the said parallel walls of the quill member orelement hold the yarns always at a right angle.

In the practice of my invention wherein yarn is suitably fed withsinkers, I position and support yarn or thread in a series of fabricloops in a single course and so that, with fabric-tension, a normal loopopening is presented between the throat of each of said loops and theopposite or support end thereof. I thereupon enter or engage, anddesirably mechanically, each of the said loops at the said normal loopopening thereof between the throat thereof and the point of support ofthe loop at the opposite end of the loop and I open or spread each ofsaid loops, and preferably by force applied outwardly in a forwarddirection toward the point of loop support. In the preferred practice ofmy invention I open or spread the loops both laterally and forwardly,but mainly forwardly, with respect to the pointof support thereof. Ithereupon separate or divide each of said opened or spread loops fromthe new yarn extending across the needle stems, as by sliding the openedor spread loops back of the swell 9, and then I guard the hook of theyarn drawing instrument by the swell, cast off the spread of opened oldloop, over said guarded hook, and draw the new loop through this castoff loop.

In practising this method I preferably in the formation of a fabricemploy a series of pairs of co-acting elements, one element of each pairhaving a hook or loop-supporting part or formation and the other elementhaving a part to enter the loop in the rear of its point of support. Inpractising this method with the use of co-acting elements of suchgeneral character, I position the yarn on a series of yarn drawinginstrumerits having hook or other yarn supporting and drawing formationsand suitably feed the yarn thereto. I position the fabric loops of theyarn so that each loop is engaged or supported on the stem or bodyportion of the instrument and so that the throat of each loop is at therear of said stem or body portion and whereby with fabric-tension anormal loop opening is presented between said throat and the stem or.body of the instrument. I thereupon penetrate each loop at said normalloop opening between its throat and the stem or body portion of thehooked instrument and preferably by a casting 0E instrument, and therebyopen or spread such loop. Such opening or spreading of the loop iseffected desirably forwardly, and it may be, subordinately, laterallywith reference to the point of support of each loop. I then separate ordivide each so penetrated old loop from the new yarn lying across theneedle stem, by a portion of the casting off instrument, whereby amplespace is provided between the old loop and the new yarn for positioningthe hook end between them and whereby also the old loop is placed beyondthe reach of said hook. I then guard the hook of the yarn drawinginstrument by the swell formation 9 and at the same time imprison thenew yarn in the hook and then I cast the opened old loop over said hookand draw the new yarn therethrough. As hereinbefore stated, thisrecitation of sequence of steps is not a limitation to said steps ascarried out in such sequence.

In the practice of my method and particularly in carrying out the sameby instrumentalities substantially such as disclosed herein, the loopsare opened or spread by the application of pressure outwardly,preferably in a forward direction upon both sides of said loops andfirst at points spaced from where the loops are stressed across thefront of the yarn drawing instruments, and then I progressively bringsuccessive portions of the loop sides between said spaced points and thesupported end of each loop under the said opening or spreading action.

Within the scope and purpose of my invention it is not requisite thoughit is desir-- able, that all the steps of the method be practised inconjunction, since certain steps of the invention as for example, thepenetration of the normal loop opening and the opening or spreading ofthe loop may be practised whether or not the loops are divided orseparated in accordance with the preferred mode of practising myinvention.

I desire it clearly to be understood that my invention is not limitedeither to sinker knitting or to direct feed knitting, and thespecification and claims are to be interpreted accordingly.

Wherever in the claims a series of loops is mentioned in connection withloop spreading or other actions taking place thereon, such statementapplies to loops formed either seriatim along the series or to a numberof loops formed simultaneously. I do not herein claim as a structure theknitting needle unit and machine organization, since the same isdisclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 289,691,filed April 12, 1919, the present application being directed to a methodor process in the carrying out or practice of which such needle unit maybe employed.

Having thus described the best mode known to me for practising myinvention and one specific embodiment of means whereby if desired it maybe carried out, I desire it to be understood that I have employed termsin a generic sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of theinvention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a series of fabric loops in a single course so that withfabric-tension a normal loop opening is presented between the throat ofeach of said loops and the opposite end or point of support thereof;engaging each of said loops at said normal loop opening forloop-spreading or opening and spreading or opening such loop by forceapplied forwardly within the loop from the place or zone of engagement;feeding yarn or thread for the next or new loops; casting off the firstmentioned or old loops over the next or new series of loops and drawingsufficient yarn for the said next or new loops. 7

2. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a series of fabric loops in a single course so that withfabric tension a normal loop opening is presented between the throat ofeach of said loops and the opposite end or point of support thereof;effecting entrance into each of said loops of said normal loop openingfor loop-spreading or opening and spreading or opening such loop bypressure outwardly in a forward direction toward the point of loopsupport; feeding yarn or thread for the next or new loops; casting offthe first mentioned or old loops over the next or new series of loops,and drawing sufficient yarn or thread for the said next or new loops.

3. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a series of fabric loops in a single course so that withfabric tension a normal loop opening is presented between the throat ofeach of said loops and the opposite end or point of support thereof;engaging each of said loops at said normal loop opening forloop-spreading or opening and spreading or opening such loop by forceapplied forwardly within'the loop from the place or zone of engagement;feeding yarn or thread for the next or new loops; separating or dividingeach of said loops from the new yarn; casting off the first mentioned orold loops over the next or new series of loops; drawing sufiicient yarnfor the said next or new loops.-

'- 4:. That method of knitting comprising the following steps:positioning and supporting a series of fabricloops in a single course sothat with fabric tension a normal loop opening is presented between thethroat of each of said loopsand the opposite and or point of supportthereof; effecting entrance into each of said loops at said'normal loopopening for loop-spreading or opening and spreading or opening suchloopby force applied outwardly in a forward direction toward the point ofloop support; feeding yarn or thread for the next or new loop;separating or dividing each of said loops from the new yarn; casting offthe first mentioned or old loops over the next or new series of loops,and drawing sufii'cient yarn for the said next or new loops.

That method of knitting which embraces the following steps: positioningand supporting a series'of completed loops in a single course; engagingeach loop'at the back of its support and exerting pressure outwardlyfrom within the same: from the back of the support to the front of theloop; feeding new yarn; casting off the s c-engaged loops from theirsupports and drawing the new loops therethrough.

6. That method of knitting which embraces the following steps: sopositioning a series of loops in a single course and sup porting themas, with fabric tension, to leave openings therethrough at the back ofthe loop supports; spreading the loops by exerting pressure outwardlyand forwardly from within the same at the back of'the supports; castingsaid spread loops off from their supports; and drawing the new loopsthrough the cast loops. 7 i

7. That method of knitting which embraces the following steps:positioning and supporting a series of completed loops ina singlecourse; engaging each loop at the back'of its support for loop-openingor spreading and opening or spreading the loop by exerting pressureoutwardly from within the same from the back of the loop support to thefront thereof; feeding new yarn; casting off the spread loops from theirsupports, and drawing the new loops therethrough.

8. That method of knitting which embraces the following steps:positioning and supporting a series of completed loops in a singlecourse; engaging each loop at the back of the loop support forloop-opening 1 or spreading and opening or spreading each loop byexerting pressure outwardly from within the same from the back of theloop support to the front ofthe same; feeding new yarn or thread for thenext or new loops; separating .or dividing each of the said loops fromthe new yarns; and casting off the spread loops from their supports, anddrawing the new loops therethrouglr.

9. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a loop so that a normal loop opening is presentedbetweenthe throat of said loop and the opposite end or point of support ereengagi said .009 at aid norllO mal loop opening for loop-spreading oropening and spreading or opening said loop by force applied forwardlywithin the loop from the place or zone of engagement; feed; ing the yarnor thread for the next or new loop; casting off the first mentioned orold loop over the next or new loop; and drawing sufficient yarn for thesaid next or new loop.

10. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a loop so that a normal loop opening is presented betweenthe throat of said loop and the opposite end or point of supportthereof; effecting the entrance into said loop at said normal loopopening for loop spreading or opening and spreading or opening such loopby pressure outwardly in a forward direction toward the point of loopsupport; feeding yarn or thread for the next or new loop; casting offthe first mentioned or old loop over the next loop; and drawingsufficient yarn or thread for the said next loop.

11. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand sup porting a series of fabric loops in a single course; opening orspreading each loop by exercising pressure outwardly from within thesame between the throat of each loop and the point of support thereof;feeding yarn or thread for the next or new loops; casting off the firstmentioned or old loops over the new or next series of loops; and drawingsufficient yarn for the said new or next loops.

12. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a series of fabric loops in a single course; opening orspreading each loop by exercising pressure outwardly fro-m within thesame between the throat of each loop and the point of support thereof;feeding yarn or thread for the next or new loops; separating or dividingeach of the first mentioned or old loops from the new yarn; casting offthe first mentioned or old loops over the new or next series of loops;and

drawing sufiicient yarn for the new or next loops. 7

13. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a series of fabric loops in a single course; separatingthe two sides of each of said loops by exerting pressure outwardly uponsaid two sides; feeding yarn or thread for the next or new loops;separating or dividing each of the first mentioned or old loops from thenew yarn; casting off said first mentioned or old loops over the new ornext series of loops and drawing suflicient yarn for the next or newloops.

14:. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningloops of a series of loops on a series of hooked yarn. drawinginstruments; opening or spreading said loops by exerting pressureoutwardly upon both sides of said loops and first at points spaced fromwhere they are stressed across the front of the yarn drawinginstruments: and then progressively bringing successive portions of theloop sides between said points and the supported end under said openingor spreading action; feeding yarn or thread for the next or new loops;casting off said opened or spaced loops and drawing instrument; feedingyarn or thread for the I next or new loops; casting off said loop anddrawing the new loop therethrough.

16. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand sup porting a series of fabric loops in a single course so that withfabric-tension a normal loop opening is presented between the throat ofeach of said loops and the opposite end or point of support thereof;engaging, for loop-spreading or opening each of said loops between thethroat thereof and the point of support at the opposite end of such loopand spreading or opening such loop by 'force applied at the sides of theloop between the said throat and the opposite end thereof: feeding yarnor thread for the next or new loops; separating or dividing each of saidfirst mentioned or old loops from the new yarn; casting off the saidfirst mentioned or old loops over the new or next series of loops, anddrawing sufficientsupply of yarn for the new or next loops 17. Thatmethod of knitting comprising the following steps: positioning andsupportin a series of fabric loops in a single 1 course so that withfabric-tension a normal loop opening is presented between the throat ofeach of said loops and the opposite end or point of support thereof;engaging for loop-spreading or opening each of said loops between thethroat thereof and the point of support at the opposite end of such loopand spreading or opening such loop by force applied at the sides of theloop between the said throat and the opposite end thereof; feeding yarnor thread for the next or new loops; casting off the said firstmentioned or old loops over the new or next series of loops, and drawingsuflicient supply of yarn for the new or next loops.

18. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a series of fabric loops upon a series of instrumentshaving yarn receiving and supporting formations, so that the throat ofeach loop is at the rear of the point of support of such loop and sothat with fabrictension a normal loop opening is presented between saidthroat and said point of support of such loop; mechanically engagingeach of said loops between its throat and the point of support ofsuchloop and continuing such mechanical engagement so as to spread or openthe loop by engagement between its throat and the point of supportthereof; separating or dividing each of the first mentioned or old loopsfrom the new yarn, whereby each old loop is projected from the yarnreceiving and supporting formation of such instrument; feeding yarn orthread for the next or new loops; casting off the said first mentionedor old loop over the yarn receiving and supporting formation of saidinstrument while retainin the new loop imprisoned by said yarn receivingand supporting formation; and drawing sufiicient supply of yarn for thenew or next loops.

19. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a series of fabric loops in a single course and so thatwith fabric-tension a normal loop opening is presented between thethroat of each of said loops and the opposite end or point of supportthereof; engaging, for loop-spreading or opening each of said loops atsaid normal loop opening between the throat thereof and the point ofsupport at the opposite end of such loops and spreading or opening suchloop by force applied to the yarn of the loop between the said throatand the opposite end thereof; feeding yarn or thread for the next or newloops; separating or dividing each of said first mentioned or old loopsfrom the new yarn, casting off the said first mentioned or old loopsover the new or next series of loops: and drawing sufficient supply ofyarn for the new or next loops.

20. That method of knitting comprising the following steps: positioningand supporting a series of loops in a single course of loops and so thatwith fabric-tension a normal loop opening is presented between thethroat of each of said loops and the opposite or support end thereof;engaging each of said loops at said normal loop opening between thethroat thereof and the point of support at the opposite end of said loopand spreading or opening such loop; feed ing yarn or thread for the nextor new loops; casting off the first mentioned or old loops over the newor next series of loops and drawing sufficient supply of yarn for thenew or next loops.

21. That improvement in the art of knitting which consists in openingthe supported loops by progressively engaging the sides of the loopstoward the looped or closed front ends thereof. I

22. That improvement in the art of knit-- ting which consists in openingthe supported loops by first contacting them at points in the rear ofthe closed supported portions thereof and continuing said opening actionprogressively toward the said closed front ends.

23. That improvement in the art of knitting which consists in forming aseries of loops supporting said loops preparatory tov drawing otherstherethrough and opening said loops for the reception of said others byfirst engaging them at other than the points of support.

24. That improvement in knitting fabrics which consists in knitting thesame with the loops interengaging without stretching the closed ends ofthe loops by the drawing of the contained loops therethrough.

25. The fabric resulting from said method, the samecomprisinginterengaging loops, the closed ends whereof have beenunstretched by the drawing of the contained loops therethrough.

26. That improvement in the art of knitting which consists in initiatingthe spreading of the loop at a point spaced from the point where saidloop is supported.

27 That improvement the art of knitting which consists in initiating thespreading of the loop at a point spaced from the point where said loopis supported and completes the spreading thereof toward said point ofsupport.

28. That improvement in the art of knitting which consists in openingthe supported loops by first entering and engaging the loops atunsupported points thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

J. FRANK WILCOMB.

